Creamy Coconut Ice

With the approach of the festive season, I'm literally tickled pink to share this recipe for creamy coconut ice with you — mainly because it's the best, creamiest coconut ice I have ever tasted and I know that once you've tried it you and your taste buds will love it too!

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Now having said that, I must tell you that for the first forty something years of my life I disliked coconut ice. It was simply too sickly sweet, even for my sweet tooth, and all of the types I had sampled at fetes and birthday parties over the years had little or no texture — to me they were insignificant crumbly lumps of pink sugary stuff. 

And then in the late 90s I had the pleasure of tasting these creamy little morsels made by a colleague (one of the former co-owners of my cooking school). Unlike other recipes made with icing sugar combined with copha, or egg white, or condensed milk, this version is made using cream cheese, and it's quick and simple to prepare. As good as it is, however, this coconut ice is nonetheless quite sweet (and rich), so my recommendation is that it's probably best reserved as a once-a year-treat.

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In the pink...

I have a bit of a 'thing' for pink. Not frilly OTT pink, as in Barbara Cartland, but I do happen to own a small, but delightful, collection of pink cardigans, t-shirts, jumpers, aprons, scarves and earrings in various shades of 'pretty'. Being my quirky self, on occasion I've been known to wear something pink every day of the week — as a bit of a challenge, you understand. And I've hosted a few 'In the Pink' morning teas where the theme was, well, pink, and everyone (yes, menfolk too) had to wear something pink. It's all lighthearted fun and, let's face it, pink is recognised as the colour of happiness and joy, so why not!?

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The recipe...

CREAMY COCONUT ICE
125g cream cheese, softened
1/4-1/3 cup milk*
31/2 cups pure icing sugar (confectioner's sugar), sifted
21/2 cups desiccated coconut
1/2 teaspoon good quality vanilla bean paste
a few drops (natural) pink food colouring

Grease a 9"x5" (23x14cm) loaf pan and line the base and sides with baking paper. Combine the soft cream cheese together with the icing sugar, milk and vanilla bean paste in a saucepan and whisk until smooth. Cook over a low heat for two or three minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Add the desiccated coconut and cook for two or three minutes more, stirring constantly. Transfer the mixture to a Pyrex bowl and beat it as it cools (I used a wooden spoon to do this). Now, divide the mixture, spooning half into a second Pyrex bowl. Add a few tiny drops of the pink colouring to one of the bowls and blend well. Spread the white mixture evenly into the bottom of the loaf pan, pressing it down gently with a wide spatula. Then spread the pink mixture evenly over the top, pressing it down also. Cover with a strip of baking paper and refrigerate until set. When you are ready to slice the coconut ice, lift it with the baking paper intact carefully from the loaf pan and place onto a cutting board. Then, using a sharp knife dipped into boiling water (and wiped dry), cut into neat, even shaped squares. Wrap in cellophane and tie with pretty ribbon or string. Store in the refrigerator, bearing in mind that there is cream cheese in the mixture.

*The original recipe suggested 1/2 cup of milk, but when I tested the recipe twice with that quantity the mixture didn't set. Use your judgement here less is more, so start with 1/4 cup and add a little extra if you feel the mixture is too dry.

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The process in pictures...

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Bite me...

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Pretty in pink...

You might also enjoy...

Please stay tuned, dear readers, as in coming weeks I have some superb new festive recipes coming to Good Things, I will also present another giveaway, AND welcome a lovely guest blogger all the way from Goa, who has kindly stepped in to ensure that I take a break to help in my ongoing R&R. In the meantime, happy cooking my friends.

Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles

Spiced Treacle Gingerbread

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Note: My recipe has been adapted from Elizabeth's Creamy Coconut Ice, with thanks to Cooking Coordinates for sharing the original.

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Tell me, do you like pink? And what edible gifts will you be making this festive season?